The Goodies celebrate the bold, innovative, inclusive and creative ways Benevity’s clients are making a difference in the world — and how they’re paving the way for others.
The Bestie Award (Large Enterprise) — Adobe
For best-in-class approach and overall impact
Adobe’s corporate purpose program, "Create Change," aligns with their core values of people, purpose and community. It revolves around four pillars: Adobe for All, Creativity for All, Technology to Transform and Sustainability at Scale. Through these pillars, Adobe fosters diversity, inclusion and sustainability while empowering individuals to reach their creative potential. With 33,000+ global employees, Adobe engages their people through giving, volunteering and skills-based programs to amplify impact on social causes. Their commitment to supporting community partners, advancing equity and inclusion, and promoting diverse voices is demonstrated through continued partnerships through portfolios such as:
- Adobe Film & TV Fund: distributes more than $6M USD in funds from Adobe and the Adobe Foundation to accelerate the careers of diverse creators in the film and television industries.
- Equity and Advancement Initiative: provides $30M+ USD in multi-year, unrestricted funding from the Adobe Foundation to nonprofits working to advance racial and social justice.
- Hometown Commitment: supports organizations driving community revitalization in some of their largest office regions. Beyond philanthropic dollars, they also connect organizations to their people and products to drive true partnership and impact.
Their social impact is further driven by initiatives like the Employee Community Fund (ECF), global skilling programs and Adobe for Nonprofits – offering resources such as free or discounted offers to Adobe Acrobat, Creative Cloud, and Express to nonprofits and communities worldwide. Acrobat Pro includes a comprehensive set of document and e-signature tools that help global organizations streamline their operations and accelerate their missions.Adobe’s ECF is a unique employee-driven grantmaking program that supports local organizations creating change in the communities surrounding their largest office regions which has invested more than $30M USD. Organizations that receive ECF grants are invited to take part in local or regional skills-based or pro bono volunteer programs as part of their Pro Bono Initiative. Adobe believes that supporting organizations through people, product and philanthropy allow them to make the greatest impact in their communities.
The Bestie Award (Small Enterprise) — Toast
For best-in-class approach and overall impact
As a NewB turned Bestie in just two years, Toast exemplifies what it means to embed impact into the heart of business strategy. As the philanthropic arm, Toast.org drives purpose through a holistic approach spanning people, product and philanthropy — with initiatives like Season of Giving and Toast to the Earth engaging over two-thirds of their 4,500 employees in 2024.
Backed by Benevity’s robust platform, Toast.org empowers global action across their focus areas – enriching the food experience for all and creating a healthier, more sustainable, and equitable world through three impact pillars: food, community, and the environment – while deeply connecting employees to nonprofits they care about.
In 2024, they achieved their largest impact yet, with 82 global events and hundreds of Toast employees volunteering 1,668 hours collectively. Alongside volunteering, they disbursed $500,000 in hometown grants to local organizations and launched the inaugural Toast.org Impact Awards, recognizing three individuals and one group for their exceptional contributions to creating meaningful change.
Toast partners with its 11 employee resource groups (ERGs) to align with Toast.org’s mission through initiatives like giving opportunities, donations, and volunteer efforts during each ERG month. Each ERG also receives a $1,000 Feed Your Community Grant during the Season of Giving to support local organizations combating food insecurity. This collaboration fosters inclusion, unity and a shared sense of purpose across the company.
With almost 82% of employees engaging on the platform and social impact ranking among top company values, Toast isn’t just making an effort — they’re making a difference.
The Moonshot Award — Cemex
For boldness and creativity
Cemex is redefining corporate social impact through bold, scalable and constructively disruptive programs that blend environmental stewardship with community empowerment.
From transforming discarded safety uniforms into upcycled fashion with local designers, to repurposing Nile River waste as fuel while generating jobs and awareness in Egypt, Cemex’s initiatives go far beyond traditional CSR. Its Regenera program exemplifies systemic innovation — turning schools into sustainability hubs and integrating waste into the cement production process, reducing landfill use and CO₂ emissions.
With partnerships that span fashion, education, and grassroots organizations, Cemex is not just addressing complex global issues — they are pioneering new models of circular economy and regenerative impact that set a new benchmark for the industry.
The Buzz Award — Discover
For catalyzing purpose through communications and storytelling
Discover exemplifies what it means to be a “good company” by seamlessly weaving social impact into its corporate strategy and brand identity.
Through its You Care, We Share program, Discover empowers employees to support nonprofits they care about through matching, volunteer rewards and flexible, inclusive opportunities — achieving a 99% satisfaction rate in 2024. Through their Pathway to Financial Success initiative, Discover has reached over 7 million students across 15,000 schools, equipping them with essential financial literacy skills for brighter futures. Discover uses impact data and storytelling to build momentum across channels, sharing authentic employee-driven stories on its Stories from Discover blog and social media, amplifying both brand trust and engagement.
Collaborating with marketing, HR and ERGs, Discover fosters a network of champions internally and externally, showcasing how doing good is central to who they are and what they do.
The People Power Award (Large Enterprise) — Google
For promoting purpose through people’s passions
Google exemplifies an employee-first culture that empowers individuals to give back to the communities and causes that are meaningful to them, regardless of role or location.
With 70% of Google employees participating across 90+ offices, employees lead the way — creating volunteer opportunities during GoogleServe, the company’s annual month of service, or leveraging Peer Match to raise money for their favorite causes.
In 2024, alone, Google employees directed more than $300M in donations and company match and contributed 600,000+ volunteer hours. Participation in Google’s giving and volunteering programs directly correlates with higher sentiment in employees across key areas like connection, retention and pride — demonstrating that when people feel connected to purpose, everyone wins.
The People Power Award (Small Enterprise) — Workiva
For promoting purpose through people’s passions
Workiva has built a truly employee-first culture where giving back is not only encouraged but deeply embedded into the company’s identity.
Through a global, inclusive and flexible program powered by Benevity, Workiva empowers every employee to co-own their impact — whether through year-round giving, Peer Matching, volunteer time off or extended service programs like Make a Positive Impact and Code for Good.
With a 73% participation rate, 91% satisfaction score and philanthropic goals met a full year ahead of schedule, the data proves what employees themselves affirm: “The company’s commitment to volunteer work is the best I have ever experienced.” By engaging ERGs, culture committees and amplifying employee-led initiatives, Workiva ensures that purpose and passion are at the heart of its workplace culture.
The Community Hero Award — Albertsons Companies Foundation
For best-in-class approach to granting
Nourishing Neighbors by Albertsons Companies Foundation exemplifies what it means to be a true community hero — meeting urgent needs while driving long-term, transformative change.
With a focus on innovative granting and localized solutions to food insecurity, the program has delivered over 1 billion meals and $297 million in donations since 2014. Guided by listening tours and community feedback, Albertsons engages employees, partners and nonprofit leaders in collaborative decision-making, exemplified by initiatives like the Summer EBT Collaborative Campaign and the Million Hour Volunteer Rally.
These programs not only respond to pressing needs like childhood hunger and volunteer shortages, but also demonstrate the company’s unique ability to unite communities, amplify impact and authentically invest in lasting solutions — making a measurable difference for both the neighborhoods they serve and their business.
The Because Award — Vanguard
For dedication to causes
Vanguard’s Strong Start for Kids™ initiative reflects a deep commitment to transforming the nonprofit landscape through collaborative, trust-based partnerships.
Going far beyond traditional funding, Vanguard works hand-in-hand with grassroots and established organizations — like FathersRead365 and Reach Out and Read — offering strategic planning support, skills-based volunteering and even resources like branding and logistics.
With over $100M in catalyzed funding, access to quality learning for 20,000+ children, and 1M+ families reached, Vanguard’s impact is powered by a 360° model that blends philanthropy, expertise, and employee engagement. Through flexible grantmaking, open communication and strategic capacity-building, Vanguard proves what’s possible when businesses become true partners in progress.
The NewB Award — Winnebago Industries
For most transformational approach
Since launching with Benevity, Winnebago’s CommunityGO program has made an extraordinary leap — from a once-a-year campaign to a dynamic, year-round movement that’s engaging employees like never before.
In just its first fiscal year, the program exceeded every goal: boosting participation by 550%, logging over 13,000 volunteer hours (a 1,000% increase), and raising over $1 million for community impact.
With creative launch strategies like CGO Cash (employee seeding), surprise & delight grants, a mission-based leaderboard challenge and employee-created opportunities, CommunityGO has quickly become a cornerstone of culture and connection. Backed by a 74% satisfaction rate in a tough year for the industry, the program is already proving its long-term power to inspire purpose, pride and community at scale.
The Buffy Award — Kathy Webb from Nike
For individual leadership, innovation and impact
The winners of the BUFFY Award are corporate purpose leaders who exemplify what we call the “Benevity Unicorn Factor.” They are a rare breed of risk-takers, changemakers and goodness leaders who are defining what it means to be purpose-driven.
Kathy Webb is the embodiment of the BUFFY Award — a trailblazer whose unwavering commitment to impact has defined not only her career but Nike’s entire approach to community engagement.
For 47 years, Kathy has been the soul of Nike’s community impact work, long before it had a formal name or budget. She has empowered thousands of employees to give back, forged transformative partnerships and championed equity in sport with a fierce belief that if you have a body, you are an athlete.
Kathy doesn’t just lead programs — she creates movements, builds bridges and inspires everyone around her to dream bigger and do better. Her legacy is one of action, inclusion and relentless heart, making her not just a role model, but the reason so many lives — and the company itself — have been positively changed.
The Employee Catalyst Award — Miriam Freidman from Accenture
For an employee whose passion creates movements
This category celebrates the behind-the-scenes heroes who deserve recognition for the incredible influence and impact they generate.
Miriam Friedman, Management Consultant at Accenture, is the definition of a superstar employee — someone whose passion, leadership and initiative have sparked a global movement both within and beyond Accenture. While her day job is in consulting, Miriam has become the driving force behind Every Name Counts, a powerful volunteer initiative honoring the memory of victims of Nazi persecution.
As an active member of Accenture’s Jewish ERG, she built a network of 65 trainers, mobilizing over 4,500 volunteers across 35 countries and generating more than 8,200 volunteer hours.
Through multilingual sessions, conference presentations and client collaborations, Miriam has made this initiative personal, inclusive and truly transformative. Her unwavering commitment to the Every Name Counts initiative and ability to inspire others make her not just a volunteer champion — but a movement maker.
The Change Champion Award — Dan Houston from Principal Financial Group
For an executive who champions a purpose-driven culture
This category celebrates an executive who is a shining example of what it looks like to lead with purpose. They foster diversity, equity and inclusion; they champion social action; and they inspire others with their commitment to purpose, people and profit.
Dan Houston, Executive Chairman of Principal Financial Group, is the embodiment of purpose-driven leadership. With a deep commitment to community impact, equity and inclusion, Dan leads by example — championing transformative initiatives like the ICON Water Trails, Legacy Woods Arboretum and ChildServe’s Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit.
Under his guidance, the Principal Charity Classic now contributes over $8 million annually to local causes. He also led the development of the Global Financial Inclusion Index, helping advance financial health across 40+ markets worldwide. Internally, Dan has driven real progress in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), increasing representation of women, people of color and persons with disabilities in leadership roles.
He inspires employees to turn passion into action, proving that when purpose, people and profit align, a company can build a better world from the inside out.
This year’s winners, and all of the nominees, are setting the standard and raising the bar for what it means to be a purpose-driven company.
We can’t wait to see all of the amazing impact the Benevity client community will achieve in the coming year within their companies, their communities and around the world.
